1885–86 Eastville Rovers F.C. season

April 2022 Eastville Rovers 1885–86 Captain Bill Somerton Ground 1884–85 1886–87 The 1885–86 season was the third to be played by the team that are now known as Bristol Rovers, and their second playing under the name Eastville Rovers. Season review As with their first two seasons, Eastville Rovers continued to play only friendly matches during the 1885–86 season. A new blue-and-white hooped shirt with white shorts was adopted this year, replacing the original black and gold kit, and it was first worn during a truncated match against Bristol side Right Against Might on 17 October 1885.Byrne & Jay (2003), p.30 Only 40 minutes of play was possible in this game due to poor light – Right Against Might had failed to arrive at the ground until 5:10p.m., not long before sunset.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000264/18851020/038/0007 Football 20 October 1885 Western Daily Press British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 2017 The Boxing Day fixture away to St George was also a shortened affair, with the game being abandoned after just 20 minutes due to one of the home team's players suffering a broken leg. With the score standing at 1–0 to St George, Mr E. Fleming attempted to kick the ball, but missed and instead his shin hit a Rovers player's knee. The sound of Fleming's leg breaking was reportedly heard 60 yards away.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18851229/007/0003 Football 29 December 1885 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 2017 A benefit match was played for Fleming four weeks later between a combined Warmley and St George XI and a Bristol & District representative side. The game, played in difficult conditions on a partially frozen pitch, ended 2–0 to Warmley & St George.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000264/18860126/200/0008 Football 26 January 1886 Western Daily Press British Newspaper Archive subscription 20 October 2017 Where results are known, Rovers ended the season with three wins, a draw and two defeats, but they played at least nine other games on top of these. Results DateOpponentVenueResultNotes17 October 1885Right Against MightThe Downs, BristolWon 1–0Only 40 minutes played due to late arrival of R.A.M.21 November 1885WarmleyPurdown, Bristol 28 November 1885WarmleyPurdown, Bristol 19 December 1885ChippenhamChippenham, Wiltshirewon 2-0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000264/18851222/041/0006 Football 22 December 1885 Western Daily Press British Newspaper Archive subscription 30 January 2021https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18851222/036/0008 Football 22 December 1885 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 30 January 202126 December 1885St GeorgeSt George, BristolLost 0–1Abandoned after about 20 minutes.2 January 1886GloucesterPurdown, BristolWon 1–0Gloucester played the whole game with ten men.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/18860105/016/0003 Football 5 January 1886 Gloucester Citizen British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 2017https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18860106/023/0007 Football 6 January 1886 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 201723 January 1886St GeorgePurdown, Bristol 30 January 1886Clifton AssociationThe Downs, Bristol 13 February 1886WarmleyWarmley, GloucestershireDrew 0–0https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18860218/004/0003 Football 18 February 1886 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 27 August 201927 February 1886Clifton AssociationThe Downs, BristolDrew 1–1https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18860303/017/0006 Football 3 March 1886 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 20176 March 1886GloucesterBudding's Field, GloucesterWon 3–1https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18860308/020/0005 Football 8 March 1886 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 2017https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/18860308/018/0004 Football 8 March 1886 Gloucester Citizen British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 201713 March 1886Right Against MightDurdham Down, BristolDrew 0–0Football 17 March 1886 Bristol Mercury10 April 1886WarmleyWarmley, GloucestershireLost 3–7https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18860413/006/0003 Football 13 April 1886 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 October 2017 In addition to these games there were also matches played against Bristol Wagon Works, Cardiff, Melksham and Wotton-under-Edge, the dates, venues and results of which are not known.Byrne & Jay (2003), p.29 References 30em Bibliography Byrne Stephen Jay Mike Bristol Rovers Football Club: The Definitive History 1883–2003 2003 Tempus Stroud 0-7524-2717-2 Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. seasons Eastville Rovers